Fish and chips is considered by many to be the UK’s national dish – you can find it everywhere from swanky gastropub kitchens to good old-fashioned chippies on pretty much every high street – but did you know there’s somewhere else in Europe that does a pretty excellent take on the British classic?
The National Fish and Chip Awards 2026 have just announced winners for a whole host of categories, including the most sustainably run business, the best takeaway of the year, and even the young fish dryer of the year. You can read about the British chippy winners here.
While the awards primarily celebrate British institutions, there was also a category for the best fish and chips business outside of the UK. The ‘International Fish and Chip Operator’ was awarded to (drum roll on the greasy chip shop table, please!) Fish & Chips Lake Mývatn, in none other than Iceland.
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That’s right – this little family-owned business, which is next to one of the country’s largest lakes, has officially claimed the title as the best place outside of the UK for fish and chips.
Lake Mývatn is in northern Iceland, home to volcanic craters, thermal springs and vivid blue waters. The region is known as the Northern Lights capital of Iceland, and it’s only an hour’s drive from Akureyri, which is the second-largest municipal area after Reykjavik.
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But what makes the food at this spot so special? Well, according to the business’s website, their fish is sourced from one of Iceland’s top vessels, which has previously won awards for its excellent quality. Oh, and they make their own tartare sauce fresh every single day.
‘We don’t make it easy to progress through the assessments as benchmarks are always set extremely high,’ said Andrew Cook, president of the National Federation of Fish Friers, ‘This ensures shortlisted businesses and individuals truly know about serving superb quality meals for customers.’
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